• The Wisconsin 4-H membership year is October 1 – September 30.
• 4-H has open membership enrollment. Youth may enroll as members at any time of the year. Counties may establish enrollment and re-enrollment deadlines for participation in specific programs/projects when those deadlines are needed to ensure educational integrity and/or safety.
• Youth in 5K (five-year-old Kindergarten) AND who are 5 years old by September 1 or older are eligible to be 4-H members.   4-H membership cannot exceed one year beyond high school graduation and cannot extend beyond the age of 19 as of December 31 of the enrollment year.  Examples:
  • Question: Emma is a high school senior and will turn 20 in April. Can she re-enroll in 4-H next fall? Answer: No, she will be 20 years old on December 31 of the enrollment year. Though Emma meets the grade criterion, she does not meet the age criterion for re-enrolling.
  • Question: Sophia graduates from high school at age 17. She goes on to college and turns 18 on December 31. Can she enroll in 4-H the enrollment year following her graduation from high school? Answer: Yes. Sophia is able to join one year following high school. This will be the last year she is eligible to be in 4-H. She will not be able to enroll next year when she is 19. She will not meet the grade criterion.
  • Question: Noah graduated from high school this year. His 20th birthday is January 15. Can he enroll in 4-H in the fall following his high school graduation? Answer: Yes. Noah meets both the age and grade criteria.
• 4-H Members must annually sign the Wisconsin 4-H Code of Conduct. Consequences for violating any part of this Code of Conduct may include, but are not limited to:
  • Removal from leadership positions held.
  • Removal from participation in the event in which the Code of Conduct has been violated (at the individual’s expense).
  • Forfeiture or repayment of financial support for the event.
  • Sanctions on participation in future 4-H events.
  • Suspension of membership.
  • Dismissal from 4-H.
• A “member in good standing” is a 4-H member who abides by the Code of Conduct and meets group or educational project participation requirements and deadlines.
• Individuals cannot be enrolled as both a Wisconsin 4-H member and a Wisconsin 4-H volunteer. Once accepted as a Wisconsin 4-H volunteer, the individual is no longer eligible for Wisconsin 4-H membership.

Youth can be a member in more than one 4-H club at the same time as long as the 4-H clubs are chartered through the same county 4-H program.

Youth can only hold 4-H membership in one county or state at the same time. Youth moving from one place to another can transfer their 4-H membership to the new county/state.

Youth can be 4-H member in a county or state that is different from their county or state of residence.

Wisconsin 4-H Members in 5K – 2nd grade participate in the Cloverbud project which is designed to meet the developmental needs of this age group. This does not include pre-kindergarten or four-year-old kindergarten youth. Cloverbud project members are not allowed to exhibit animals at public events nor participate in shooting sports activities.

Youth who are home schooled will participate in Wisconsin 4-H in their declared grade.

Counties are encouraged to recognize full graduation for those who wish to cease 4-H membership upon graduation from high school. High School seniors, and those participating as members in the year following high school graduation, will be eligible to participate through the entire 4-H year.

Participation in regional and state 4-H events and programs will be based upon the 4-H member’s grade. Participation in regional and state 4-H competitions will be based upon the 4-H member’s grade or age depending on competition rules.

• Youth must qualify for participation in regional and state 4-H events, competitions and programs through their county of membership. This statement does not prohibit a county from using an event in another county as the place where their members qualify for a regional or state competition. It does mean that members must be selected as representatives of only their county of membership, regardless of the location of the qualifying experience.
• Youth must be enrolled in 4-H at the time the event/program occurs.
• Participation is limited to those members who are in “good standing” with their local 4-H club and county.

Participation in national 4-H events, competitions and programs will be based upon the age established for the event.

• Youth must qualify for participation in national 4-H events, competitions or programs through their county of membership. This statement does not prohibit a county from using an event in another county as the place where their members qualify for a regional or state competition. It does mean that members must be selected as representatives of only their county of membership, regardless of the location of the qualifying experience.
• Youth must be enrolled in 4-H at the time the event/program occurs.
• Participation is limited to those members who are in “good standing” with their local 4-H club and county.

4-H Club and Group meetings, committee meetings, project meetings, community service activities and recreational events can ONLY be attended by 4-H members, 4-H volunteers, parents and/or an adult who is responsible for the member, siblings and invited guests including potential new 4-H members. This policy would not preclude members of the general public from connecting with the club or group in a limited short-term capacity (i.e. customers of a 4-H Club’s bake sale table at a local venue or event, or members of the public at a bowling alley during a 4-H Club’s recreation event.)

As a best practice, attendance should be taken at all 4-H Club and Group meetings, committee meetings, project meetings, community service activities and recreational events. Attendance will record the names of ALL individuals in the space. It is also best practice to forward attendance lists, along with meeting minutes, to the county 4-H Program Educator.

Wisconsin 4-H Clubs and Groups are not considered governmental bodies as defined in Wisconsin State Statue 19.82(1) and therefore are not subject to the Open Meetings Law.

Fairs: Fairs are valuable 4-H programming partners that provide youth the opportunity to reflect on their project work through exhibition. For this reason, local Extension Offices will share 4-H membership lists (Name, Address, Phone, Email, Club Name(s), and Projects) with county fairs upon request for the exclusive purpose of promoting state-sanctioned exhibition opportunities covered under DATCP 160.

Wisconsin 4-H Foundation: The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation is a valuable partner that provides support for many 4-H programs and activities. For this reason, the Division of Extension may share 4-H membership and volunteer lists (name, address, phone and email) for the purposes of solicitation of financial support.

Per UW-Madison policy, Wisconsin 4-H will use the personal data we collect to facilitate the operations and educational activities. We only use the personal data for the purposes for which it was collected, unless we reasonably consider that it is needed for another related reason and that the reason is compatible with the original purpose. If we need to use your data for an unrelated purpose, we will seek your consent.

More information about UW-Madison’s Privacy Policy can be found at: https://www.wisc.edu/privacy-notice/